Monday, October 31, 2011

Spooky Poetry Corner

Happy Halloween, kids.

I've lost the battle, yet again, about how our merry little band is celebrating.

My plan was to dress in my favorite costume (a Cloak of Indifference), sit on the couch and stream old episodes of Acrylic Intervention with Clara Parkes on Netflix. (The one where she gets knifed at the Methodist church bazaar while counseling the lady who can't stop knitting toilet roll covers is scary enough for two Halloweens.)

In the event, I was outvoted 231 to 1 (stupid traitor sock yarn colony) in favor of Dolores's plan that we make an appearance at the Bottom Dollar Lounge's "Haunted and Humpy" party in a group costume.

It could be worse. The first idea on the whiteboard was that we all dress as the Human Centipede, with Dolores in front. After much spirited debate, she's going as Slutty Barbara Walker and the rest of us are going to be swatches and top-down sweaters.

I'm still finishing my Slutty Baby Cable costume, so I hope you won't mind re-visiting an Occasional Piece I wrote several Halloweens ago but which has never actually appeared on the blog. It's an homage to one of the great American masters of horror literature, and was created for Brenda Dayne's Cast On podcast; if you'd rather listen than read, it's available (with pipe organ accompaniment) in her archives.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I knitted, weak and weary,On a lumpy Aran sweater that was truly quite a bore,While I cabled, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping–As of hoofbeats gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.“’Tis the maintenance man,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door.Only this–and nothing more.”

Ah, distinctly I remember I was knitting for DecemberFor a boyfriend who stretched six feet from his temples to the floor.Eagerly I wished it finished, yet the skeins were undiminished–Though I knit ’til I was crippled and the sweater was a bore–Though that lumpy Aran sweater was a never-ending bore.So I sighed–and knit some more.

When at last the row at last had ended and the stitches dropped were mended,“Sir,” I said, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore.But the fact is, I was counting and my agitation mountingWhen so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,That I scarce was sure I heard you.”–here, I opened wide the door;Darkness there–and nothing more.

As I stood upon the doorstep, suddenly I heard a sure step,And in walked a fluffy Romney ewe I’d never seen before.Without a word or nod, across the welcome mat she trodAnd lighting up a Camel cigarette, she perched beside the door–Perched beside the bust of Barbara Walker near my chamber door;Perched, and smoked–and nothing more.

Then, quoth the Romney, “Knit some more.”

Much I marveled this unruly sheep to hear command so trulyIn my native tongue an order rendered in a tone so sure.“Tell me, madam,” I addressed her, “Why am I the one you pester?Why not Mabel, Midge, or Esther?” Questions did not interest her.She just rolled her eyes and flicked some dying ashes to the floor.

Quoth the Romney, “Knit some more.”

And the Romney, sitting primly in the hallway, smoking grimly,Those words only ever said, and those words only–nothing more.So, into my armchair sinking, I resumed my fruitless tinking,Working on the Aran sweater ’til my fingers all were sore.

And the sheep said, “Knit some more.”

And that Romney, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting,Near the bust of Barbara Walker just inside my chamber door.And she smokes, and drinks, and titters while I try to knit with jittersOn the lumpy Aran sweater that is as it was before.Though Decembers pass away upon this sweater, every day,I shall be knitting–evermore.

Dear Franklin, how many ways do I love thee? Plenty, I can tell you. That was a good trick, and I'm not like to get a better treat, either.(Wicked, wicked boy - and I mean this in the most loving way!)

Franklin, your creativity amazes me. Bravo! An accent grave would have been so appropriate for a Halloween piece. (d'après--oops.) A little holiday-themed blog entry scavenger hunt? You think of everything.

By the way, I would be remiss in NOT showing you the kick-ass costume my daughter (now 13 years old) made for Halloween (you photographed her and me for the 1000 Knitters project when you came to Alabama). She is the RETRO Optimus Prime; check it out here:

Hello, Neat post. There is a problem with your web site in web explorer, would check this¡K IE still is the market leader and a large part of people will pass over your great writing due to this problem.Togel Bola Online

Copyright and Posting Notice

All original content of this blog, both words and images, is held in copyright by F. Habit. Use of any kind, in any medium, for any reason without express, prior written consent is prohibited.

Permission is not granted for the posting of any content from this site to Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, or any other Web site.

Please do not provide links to any product, service, organization or cause when leaving comments unless directly related to the topic of the post. Unsolicited advertising will be deleted and repeat offenders will be blocked.

When in doubt, please ask. I'm not mean, I'm just committed to preserving the quality of experience for my readers.